Electron off and on relay tube



June 1948. J. H. HOMRIGHOUS ELECTRON OFF AND ON RELAY TUBE Original Filed Jan. 12, 1943 FIGZ FIG!

FIG?) IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 1, 1948 ELECTRON OFF AND ON RELAY TUBE John H. Homrighous, Oak Park, Ill.

Original application January lz, 1943, Serial No.

472,105. Divided and this application February '7, 1944, Serial No. 521,337

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improved radio tube in which the current path through the tube may be effectively opened and closed by varying the potential on the control grid.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide means in a radio tube for deflecting or rotating a beam of electrons ofi and on one of the anodes in the tube to produce a large voltage change quickly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tube that may be controlled by varying the potential on its control grid to instantly stop or start as desired the electron flow through its output circuit.

Tubes have been designed that may become conductive when a certain potential has been applied to their control grid; but the grid loses its ability to stop current flow once the tube becomes conductive. The grid acts only to start the plate current. In the instant invention the control grid may stop and start plate current as desired.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail view of the oil and on electron relay tube.

Figure 2 is a detail end view of the tube in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a circuit arrangement for the oil and on electron relay tube.

Figures 1 and 2 show an improved relay tube for turning ed and on a comparatively large current by a small voltage change on the control grid.

This tube comprises an evacuated envelope in glass bulb I containing an indirectly heated cathode 2, two control electrodes 3 and 4 of small cross sectional area located on opposite sides parallel and adjacent to the cathode. Two anodes 5 and 6 are provided and located on opposite sides of the cathode and in alinement with the control electrodes 3 and 4. The anodes 1 and 8 located adjacent to the anodes 5 and 6 are electrically connected together inside the bulb. The four anodes surround the cathode and may be spaced therefrom by the same radius. In the pre ferred arrangement the anodes 5 and 6 will have a slightly greater radius than the anodes I and 8 as shown in Figure 2. The several tube elements are mounted on and held in proper position by the member 9 of insulating material. The mounting 9 is secured by small rods l and H to the tubular glass stem l2. On the under side of 2 trically connected to the cathode 2 but cut away for the other electrodes extending through the mounting 9 shown in Figure 1 and indicated by the dotted line in Figure 2. A metal shield M may also be placed over the top and adjacent to the tube elements, and connected to the lower shield by the rods l5 and I6 extending on the outside of anodes l and 8 as shown in Figure 2. These shields maintained at cathode potential will confine the electrons to the anodes. Conductors from the individual tube elements, I1, I8 and I9 from the anodes, 20 and 2| from the control electrodes, 22 and 23 from the filament and 24 from the cathode are extended through the glass stem [2 to the base 25 of the tube where they are brought out through the glass envelope and terminated on terminals extending from the tube base.

Referring to Figure 3 the anodes 5 and 6 may be maintained at a higher positive potential than the anodes 1 and 8 as shown by the adjustable contacts on the voltage divider resistance 26. The control electrodes 3 and 4 may be operated at a variable or adjustable positive potential. Assuming that the control or deflecting electrode 3 is at approximately the same potential as the anode 5, and control or deflecting electrode 4 is at a lower potential than the anode 6, then electrons will flow from the cathode 2 to the anode 5 through the load resistor 21. The electrode being at a lower potential than the anode 6 will deflect or shield the electron from the anode 6. An increasing potential on the grid of tube 28, such as may be produced by a saw tooth voltage Wave generator, will cause the potential on the control electrode 3 to become less positive which will deflect or rotate the electrons forward and backward from the anode 5 causing a sharp increase in potential across the load resistor 21 which may be used for many purposes, such as, controlling the energization of a relay, or triggering a tube to discharge a condenser. The winding of a relay may be substituted for the load resistor 21. This increase of potential is applied through a resistor 29 to the second control electrode 4 increasing its potential sumciently to cause the electrons from the cathode to be rotated to impinge the anode B which will cause a sharp voltage drop in its load resistor 39 which may be applied as explained above.

The voltage on anode 5 may be adjusted so that a very small change in potential on electrode 3 will instantly deflect the electrons from the anode 5, or it may be of such value that a positive pulse member 9 there may be a metal shield 13 elecapplied to the grid of tube 28 may increase for a period of time before the deflecting electrode 3 becomes sufficiently negative or less positive to deflect the electrons from the plate on anode 5 so that any timing arrangement may be obtained for changing the current through the load resistor 21. Furthermore the current from the cathode to the anodes 5 and 6 may be substantially larger which may be quickly turned off or on and vice versa.

While I have shown a double ofi or on relay tube it is to be understood that a tube with only one.

control electrode may be employed in which case the anodes I and 8 would be butted or joined together at one end. j l

The embodiments of the invention which have been given herein are illustrations of how the various features may be accomplished and of the principles involved. It is to be understood that and outside of said first and said second deflecting electrodes, a pair of other anodes with cylindrical inner surfaces connected together and having-a common externally extending connection disposed on opposite sides of said cathode to substantially complete a cylindrical anode boundary for said cathode, a source of current connected between said cathode and said anodes for current fiow through said anodes, said first and said second anodes connected to relatively high potential from said source and said other anodes connected to relatively low potential from said source, a member connecting said first anode and said second deflecting electrode so that potential changes applied to said first deflecting electrode causes two Way electron deflection at both the said first and second anode to produce maximum the invention contained herein is capable of em 1 bodiments in other forms and adaptations, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

This application is a division of application Serial Number 472,105 filed Jan. 12, 1943.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: A radio tubecomprising an envelope provided with an elongated cathode capable of emitting electrons, a first electron deflecting electrode comprising a, substantially straight member with an externally extending connection and a second electron deflecting electrodesimilar to said first deflecting electrode disposed parallel to and on.

opposite sides of said cathode, a first anode having a small cylindrical inner surface with an externally extending connection and a second anode similar to said first anode disposed on opposite sides of said cathode in parallel alignment with current through said first anode and minimum vcurrent through said second anode.

JOHN H. HOMRIGHOUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

